Find the balance in Maastricht

| | |

Work-life balance revolves around the art of balancing work and private life. It does not mean that everything is always perfectly divided, but that there is room for both: time to perform and time to recharge. In Maastricht, this almost comes naturally: here, work is never far from relaxation. After a busy day at work, it is easy to walk along the river Meuse, sit on a terrace or dive into nature. That is Maastricht-style work-life balance.

At Maastricht Universiteit Maastricht 's Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, a lot of research is being done on how people find that balance and how they recover after work. Bram Fleuren, assistant professor of Work and Social Psychology, says: "In our department, we study sustainable employability, recovery activities such as sport or mindfulness, and topics like burnout and fatigue. A healthy balance ensures that you have a nice life, but also that you keep up your work longer. Short-term stress is no big deal, as long as the stress level drops again after a working day. That recovery is important for your health and determines whether you experience a good work-life balance."

board universiteit maastricht

Taking a distance from work

“People often think they recharge at the weekend or during holidays, but that effect is temporary and fades quickly,” says Bram. “Regular shorter periods of rest seem necessary alongside the occasional long break.” Going for a run, meeting friends in a café, visiting a museum or playing music in a band. Maastricht offers plenty of opportunities for those much-needed moments of recovery. Active and social leisure activities, in particular, have a positive effect. “We see that the recovery opportunities people have in their immediate surroundings are decisive for their mental and physical health.” A city where relaxation, hospitality, culture and social interaction are a given therefore helps people to switch off from work. You’ll find that in Maastricht, and its lively, convivial character contributes to this.

Interestingly, it is not so much the activity itself that determines whether you recover optimally, but rather the experience the activity gives you. This was shown in a recent Maastricht Universiteit Maastricht study of over 900 participants. "In the PhD research supervised by colleagues Prof Dr Ute Hulsheger and Dr Sjir Uitdewilligen, it emerged that social, spiritual, virtual and outdoor activities mainly provide relaxation, while physical, mental and creative activities contribute to a sense of growth and self-esteem. Both types of experiences lead to less fatigue, better sleep, more energy and better presentations."

Connection and nature

Greenery in the city also plays a role. "Proximity to parks, water and natural areas can reduce stress and promote recovery after work. There are studies showing that a 20-minute walk through greenery already has a positive effect on your brain," says the scientist. Fortunately, that greenery is never far away in Maastricht. During your lunch break, it is easy to stroll through the Stadspark or along the river Meuse, and at the weekend you can find the peace and quiet of the Mount Saint Peter or the ENCI quarry. Or explore the surrounding Heuvelland region. The rolling vistas will make you slow down automatically.

  • picnic sintpietersberg maastricht marketing bram rusman
  • Flowers Frontenpark Maastricht

Art and culture are also proven ways to reduce stress and boost creativity. In this respect, you can indulge in Maastricht, the second cultural city in the Netherlands. Visit an exhibition at the Fotomuseum aan het Vrijthof, enjoy dance at Theater aan het Vrijthof or go to a concert at the Muziekgieterij. Maastricht has its own pace. The city's joie de vivre really gets you recharged. Whether it's a weekend break or a weekday workout.

Bram Fleuren and his colleagues are currently researching how work affects people's daily lives. For this, they are looking for participants. Interested? Look here for more information.

View locations on map

Skip map elements

Also interesting

This website uses cookies

This website uses cookies (Functional, Analytical, Marketing) which are necessary for the website to function as well as possible. By clicking accept, you indicate your agreement with this.